The Association Between Chlorhexidine Bathing and Central Line-Associated Infections in Medical Intensive Care Units

National Taiwan University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI)

Treatments: Other: Chlorhexidine bathing

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05919966

202302031RINC

Details and patient eligibility

About

We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study assessing the relationship between regular bathing using 2% CHG wipes every other day and the occurrence of central line-associated infections (CLABSI) in patients within the medical intensive care unit (MICU).

Full description

This study defined the post-intervention period as July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2022. During this period, one of the three medical intensive care units (MICUs) in NTUH implemented chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing as part of their daily care routine (CHG group). This decision was made in response to a higher incidence rate of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) bacteremia observed in that particular MICU during the preceding six months (pre-intervention period: January 1, 2017, to June 30, 2017), compared to the other two MICUs. The remaining two MICUs continued to provide usual care, which involved bathing patients with towels soaked in water and soap on a daily basis.

Enrollment: 6,930 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• all patients who were admitted to the MICU between January 2017 and June 2022

Exclusion criteria

• patients aged under 18 years old

Trial design

6,930 participants in 2 patient groups

chlorhexidine group

Description:

Patients were bathed one day involving the use of wipes soaked in a 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) solution and the next day using a towel soaked with water and soap during the MICU stays.

Treatment:

Other: Chlorhexidine bathing

usual care group

Description:

Patients were bathed with towels soaked in water and soap on a daily basis during the MICU stays.